Lake George Association

What Lake George Association does

The Lake George Association (LGA), founded in 1885 and headquartered in Lake George, New York, is the nation's oldest lake conservation organization, operating as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with a small staff of 1-10 employees. The organization protects Lake George's water quality and watershed by addressing five core threats—invasive species, road salt, nutrient pollution, harmful algal blooms (HABs), and climate change—through science, education, community engagement, advocacy, and grant deployment. Its mission is economically significant: Lake George supports more than 500 tourism businesses and drives approximately $3 billion in annual regional economic activity, with $630 million in direct tourism spending.

The LGA's flagship technical initiative is the Jefferson Project, a partnership with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) and IBM Research that operates what is described as the most sophisticated freshwater observing and forecasting system in the nation. The project has deployed over 50 monitoring platforms and 500+ smart sensors across the 32-mile lake and surrounding watershed, collecting more than a quarter billion data points annually. The R/V Boylen research vessel supports the sensor network, and the project has developed a near-term, high-frequency HAB forecasting system — reportedly the only one of its kind for small inland lakes — that integrates atmospheric data from SUNY Albany's Mesonet program with in-lake sensor arrays and ecological models. Complementary technology includes the Lake Protector App, which provides watershed homeowners with property-specific lake-protection guidance.

The LGA is funded primarily through individual membership donations, supplemented by business memberships, foundation grants (e.g., Lake Champlain Basin Program, Wright Family Foundation), and event revenue (Annual Meeting, Summer Gala, Floating Classroom at $20/ticket). The 2026-2030 Strategic Plan reflects an operating budget that is expanding from $3.5M to $4.5M, with approximately $4.55M planned for lake protection in 2026. Constituent segments include watershed property owners, K-12 schools (Floating Classroom reaching 2,000+ participants annually), municipal governments (Towns of Bolton, Queensbury, Lake George, Hague, and Village of Lake George), business members, and the general public. Programs span mandatory boat inspection (35,505 boats screened in 2024), Eurasian watermilfoil hand-harvesting at 39 sites, the Lake Impact Fund (over $1M in grants deployed in 2026), and policy advocacy generating 100+ comment letters and 25+ presentations annually.

Name

Lake George Association

Legal name

Lake George Association

Website

https://lakegeorgeassociation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1885

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Lake George Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1885 that protects Lake George's water quality through science-based programs, community engagement, advocacy, and the Jefferson Project sensor-network partnership with RPI and IBM Research.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Lake Conservation Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Administration of Conservation Programs (92412)

SIC

Sanitary Services (4950)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Resources & Watershed Protection (BPAGAGAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Water, Wastewater & Stormwater Compliance (BPAHAJAJ), Water Quality & Watershed/Hydrologic Modeling (SWMM/HEC-RAS, Flood/Runoff/Nutrient) (EUAHAKAF), Environmental Justice & Community Environmental Health (BPAGAGAL)

Keywords

• Lake conservation
• Watershed protection
• Water quality monitoring
• Environmental education
• Invasive species prevention

Headquarters

HQ city

Lake George

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Donations: The LGA relies on membership donations as its primary revenue source. Members are individuals 18 years or older who make a membership donation to the LGA.
2. Event Revenue: Revenue generated from events such as the Annual Meeting, Summer Gala, and Floating Classroom programs. Floating Classroom tickets are $20 per person.
3. Grants and Funded Programs: The LGA receives grants from various sources including Lake Champlain Basin Program, Wright Family Foundation, and others to fund specific lake protection projects through the Lake Impact Fund.
4. Business Membership: Special membership category for businesses to support lake protection and gain recognition as stewards of Lake George.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Lake George Association (LGA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit conservation organization that protects Lake George's water quality through a combination of science-driven advocacy, community science programs, environmental education, grant-making, and direct partnerships with municipalities. Its core deliverables include watershed monitoring (via the Jefferson Project sensor network), boat inspection and invasive species prevention, educational programs such as the Floating Classroom, and funding for property-level improvements through the Lake Impact Fund.

Product overview

The Lake George Association (LGA) operates a suite of environmental protection programs centered on Lake George conservation, combining hands-on education, community science, technology-enabled monitoring, and grant funding. Its core products include the Floating Classroom (an experiential boat-based education program running since 1991) and the Lake Protector App (a property-level guidance tool). The LGA also runs the HABWatch community science program for harmful algal bloom monitoring, the Lake Protectors Podcast for outreach, the Lake Impact Fund for watershed grants, and the Low Impact Development Certification Program—all supported by the Jefferson Project's sensor network for data-driven advocacy and policy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Lake George Waterkeeper: Program focused on water quality monitoring, advocacy, and enforcement to protect Lake George waters.
• Jefferson Project
• Lake Protector App
• Floating Classroom
• HABWatch
• Lake Impact Fund

Products and services

• Floating Classroom An educational boat trip program running since 1991 that takes participants onto Lake George to measure water clarity with Secchi disks, catch and identify zooplankton using plankton nets and field microscopes, collect water samples using a Van Dorn bottle to measure temperature, pH, and dissolved oxygen, and learn about lake food webs, water quality threats, and the lake's geological and human history. Public programs run Wednesdays at 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. at $20 per person (limit 25 passengers per trip); school field trips are offered in spring, fall, and summer camps, free for watershed schools.
• Lake Protector App A mobile application that empowers homeowners with personalized guidance to reduce their property's impact on Lake George. It integrates publicly available mapping data to provide tailored best management practices and is supported by a site visit program offering customized low impact development solutions for property owners.
• HABWatch Program A volunteer-based community science program that enlists volunteers to monitor shoreline and near-shore areas around Lake George for harmful algal blooms (HABs). Volunteers receive email alerts when water and weather conditions are conducive to HAB formation, submit survey responses including photos, and help validate the Jefferson Project's HAB modeling research and guide toxin sampling efforts.
• Lake Protectors Podcast A monthly podcast featuring 30-40 minute episodes with conversations with local and industry experts covering topics ranging from science and conservation efforts to community stories, educating listeners about water quality issues and threats facing the Lake George watershed.
• Lake Impact Fund (LIF) A grant fund that brings together contributions from LGA donors and partners to support water quality protection projects throughout the Lake George watershed, including stormwater homeowner grants and wastewater homeowner grants for property owners, with projects selected for clear goals and measurable results.
• Low Impact Development (LID) Certification Program A certification system that recognizes new and re-development projects (private and public) that employ established standards and practices for keeping waters clean, designed to reduce runoff and intercept stormwater from the built landscape before it reaches a stream or lake.

Quantifiable outcome

• 35,505 boats inspected for aquatic invasive species in 2024
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor, major and emerging.

• Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026RPI is a core partner in the Jefferson Project, collaborating with LGA and IBM Research to develop the most sophisticated freshwater observing and forecasting system. RPI received $550,000 grant to support the Smart Sensor Network and new research vessel R/V Boylen. The Darrin Freshwater Institute at RPI conducts ongoing research and monitoring.
• IBM ResearchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIBM Research is a core partner in the Jefferson Project, contributing technology and expertise to develop the Smart Sensor Network and freshwater forecasting systems for Lake George protection.
• Lake George Park CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLGA provides $79,000 through Lake Impact Fund to support the Lake George Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Program, including mandatory boat inspection and decontamination. Also received $220,000 grant for invasive species prevention and Eurasian watermilfoil management.
• Lake George Hemlock CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition formed to enhance early detection and treatment of invasive Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA) in the Lake George Watershed. Developing comprehensive strategy including funding plans, outreach campaigns, and annual HWA Monitoring Weekend.
• Izaak Walton League of AmericaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for SaltWatch program where volunteers monitor chloride levels in local streams. Data is entered into the Clean Water Hub for tracking and analysis to support sustainable winter road management.
• Southern Adirondack Board of RealtorsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to deliver continuing education course 'Maintaining Home Value Through Environmental Resource Protection' equipping realtors with watershed and water quality knowledge.
• Village of Lake GeorgecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in West Brook Conservation Initiative transforming former Gaslight Village property into stormwater treatment and public park space. LGA conducts ongoing water quality monitoring for the new Village wastewater treatment plant.
• Town of BoltonmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReceived $50,000 grant for construction of two woodchip bioreactors to remove nitrogen from treated wastewater. Partnership on Bolton Bay Water Quality Assessment supporting wastewater treatment plant upgrades.
• Warren CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in West Brook Conservation Initiative. Warren County Sheriff's Office Dive Team leads underwater cleanup for Lake George CleanUp Day. Partnership with Warren County Soil & Water Conservation District for erosion control.
• New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton echoed LGA's call for comprehensive aquatic invasive species management plan at 2026 Annual Meeting. LGA works with DEC on WAVE stream monitoring program and HAB reporting.
• SUNY Albany Mesonet ProgramemergingStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeveloping partnership to integrate atmospheric data with Jefferson Project sensor arrays and ecological models for real-time HAB forecasting systems for inland lakes.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Save the Sound: Regional nonprofit protecting Long Island Sound through science, advocacy, and citizen engagement; highly comparable model combining habitat monitoring, policy advocacy, and volunteer community science.
• Hudson Riverkeeper: Waterkeeper Alliance affiliate focused on water quality monitoring, advocacy, and enforcement for a major Northeast waterway; directly comparable Waterkeeper-style program model to Lake George Waterkeeper.
• Lake Champlain Basin Program: Regional lake/watershed protection program serving Lake Champlain, with overlapping grant programs for septic upgrades and stormwater projects and overlapping municipal stakeholders in the Adirondack/North Country region.
• Finger Lakes Institute at Hobart and William Smith Colleges: Academic institute dedicated to Finger Lakes research, monitoring, and community education; comparable lake-focused freshwater science and stakeholder engagement mission within New York State.

Regional players

• Adirondack Mountain Club: Regional nonprofit focused on Adirondack wilderness conservation, trails, and education; overlapping regional constituency and conservation mission around Lake George watershed.
• Protect the Adirondacks: Adirondack-focused advocacy organization working on environmental protection and policy; comparable advocacy and stakeholder engagement model within the same regional ecosystem.

Broad incumbents

• Chesapeake Bay Foundation: Largest nonprofit dedicated to Chesapeake Bay restoration, with much larger budget and multi-state footprint; serves as a scaled-up benchmark for what a mature watershed protection organization looks like.
• The Nature Conservancy (New York Chapter): Global conservation organization with active New York freshwater and land programs; broader portfolio but overlaps significantly in lake/watershed protection, land stewardship, and policy advocacy in the Adirondack region.

Emerging players

• Izaak Walton League of America: National conservation nonprofit partnering on the LGA's SaltWatch program; comparable community-science and watershed monitoring approach but operating at a national scale across many local chapters.

Others

• Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Resource Management Division: Public-sector entity administering lake/watershed protection programs for a specific inland lake; thematically comparable as a lake-protection administrative body but operates under tribal government with different governance structure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/LakeGeorgeAssn
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/LakeGeorgeAssoc
• Facebookfacebook.com/LakeGeorgeAssociation
• Instagraminstagram.com/lakegeorgeassociation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Lake George Association